Device for supplying an inlet line of a packing machine with flat packs contained internally of a cardboard box, and a cardboard box containing flat packs

ABSTRACT

The device for supplying an inlet line (L) of a packing machine with flat packs contained internally of a cardboard box (C), in batteries (B) of packs superposed on one another, comprises: a rest plate ( 1 ) provided with through-holes ( 11 ), for restingly receiving the base surface (CB) of the box (C), which includes a series of through-holes (F), a series of rods ( 2 ) and moving means (M) of the rods ( 2 ), activatable in such a way as to translate the rods ( 2 ) with respect to the plate ( 1 ). The moving means (M) are commandable to translate the rods ( 2 ) with respect to the plate ( 1 ) in such a way that the rods ( 2 ) pass through the holes ( 11 ) present in the plate ( 1 ) and the holes (F) present on the base surface (CB) of the box (C), enter internally of the box (C) and raise the batteries (B) of packs present therein such that a battery (B) of packs in turn is raised into a position (P) beyond the upper open surface (I) of the box (C) and maintained in said position (P) for a time that is sufficient for all the packs of the battery to be supplied and transferred to the inlet line (L) of the packing machine.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the technical sector of packing articles internally of packs, such as for example blisters internally of packs.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

To carry out these packaging operations, automatic and/or semi-automatic apparatus are used, which are usually provided with an inlet line in which flat packs have to be positioned in continuous succession, flanked to one another in a continuous line, the flat packs then being directed towards other work sections of the apparatus where the packs will be opened out such as to be able to receive the articles internally thereof and obtain the final packages.

In particular, the present invention relates to a device for supplying the inlet line of a packaging machine with flat packs that are contained internally of a box, and also concerns a new box package containing flat packs.

At present the supply operations of the inlet line of the packing machine with flat packs are manually carried out by an operator.

Once the box is open (inside which the flat packs are packed in rows, one flanked to another), the operator performing this operation must manually collect, one at a time, a series of packs, from the row of packs, and position them on the inlet line of the packing machine.

It is clear that these supply modes are not at all normal, either in regard to the safeguard and physical well-being of the operator, who has to exert quite considerable physical efforts in handling the fully boxes and must be very able and quick in maintaining a good rhythm of transfer of the boxes, and in regard also to the operativity and productivity of the packing machine.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The aim of the present invention is to provide a device for supplying an inlet line of a packing machine with flat packs contained internally of a cardboard box which obviates the above-cited drawbacks present in the prior art.

In particular, an aim of the present invention is to provide a device able to bring and supply the flat packs to the inlet line of the packing machine automatically. The aims are obtained with a device for supplying an inlet line of a packing machine with flat packs contained internally of a box according to claim 1.

Other advantageous characteristics of the device of the present invention are set out in the dependent claims of claim 1.

A further aim of the present invention is to provide a new box packaging containing flat packs according to claim 11, usable with the device of claim 1, and the claims dependent on claim 1.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The characteristics of the device for supplying an inlet line of a packing machine with flat packs contained internally of a box and the package containing flat packs of the present invention are described in the following with reference to the accompanying tables of drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of particularly significant components of the device of the present invention in an operating configuration in which the box containing the packs is positioned with the upper face open and flanked to the inlet line of the packing machine; in this figure the box has been made “transparent” in order better to illustrate components of the device which otherwise would not be visible due to the presence of the box;

FIGS. 2A, 2B e 2C illustrate the perspective view of FIG. 1 of the device of the present invention in successive operating configurations each relative to corresponding steps of supplying successive batteries of flat packs contained in the box to the inlet line of the packing machine; in this figure too the box has been shown as “transparent” in order better to illustrate components of the device which otherwise would not be visible due to the presence of the box;

FIG. 3 is a view from above of the device of the present invention in a possible, but not exclusive, embodiment by way of example;

FIG. 4A illustrates, in a vertical transversal section, a box package containing batteries of flat packs of the present invention, while FIG. 4B illustrates, in a view from above, the empty box with the upper face open and the upper flaps of the transversal and longitudinal lateral walls opened out.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

With reference to the tables of drawings, reference letter (D) denotes the device for supplying an inlet line (L) of a packing machine with flat packs contained internally of a box (C).

The inlet lines (L) of the packing machine usually comprise a conveyor channel for the flat packs towards the work stations of the machine which channel is provided with lateral walls (L1, L2) for containing flat packs during transfer thereof.

The device (D) of the invention comprises a rest plate (1), which a shape and dimensions adequate for restingly receiving a base surface (CB) of the box (C), which is fixable with respect to the inlet line (L) in a position such that the box (C), once rested on the plate (1), is arranged with a transversal lateral wall (PT) facing towards the inlet line (L) of the packing machine and with an upper surface thereof open (I) at a level corresponding to a start level of the line (L) (see for example FIG. 1).

The plate (1) comprises a series of through-holes (11), for example eight in number as illustrated in the figures, arranged in two rows of four, aligned two by two.

The box (C), which internally contains the packs to be supplied to the inlet line (L) exhibits a base surface (CB) provided with through-holes (F) realised in such a way as to be positioned opposite the holes (11) present in the plate (1), once the box (C) has been placed resting thereon.

The packs (A) are predisposed in the box (C) in a row, flanked to one another such as to form a battery (B) of flat packs, the box (C) exhibiting dimensions such as to be able to contain a plurality of batteries (B) of packs mutually superposed and which is provided, for each battery (B) of packs, with a containing portion (U) in a U-shape arranged such as to support the battery (B) of packs and envelop the battery (B) at least partially at the two ends thereof.

In order to be able to automatically carry out the supply of the packs contained in this way in a single box, the device (D) also comprises a series of rods (2), corresponding in number to a number of holes (11) present in the plate (1), predisposed in such a way as to be coaxially aligned to the holes (11) and exhibiting dimensions such as to be able to transit freely through the holes (11).

The device (D) further comprises moving means (M) of the rods (2), activatable in such a way as to translate the rods (2) with respect to the plate (1) in two opposite translation directions.

The moving means (M) are in particular commandable, once a box (C) has been positioned with the relative base surface (CB) resting on the plate (1), in such a way as to translate the rods (2) with respect to the plate (1) so that the rods (2) pass through the holes (11) present in the plate (1) and the holes (F) present on the base surface (CB) of the box (C) enter internally of the box (C) and raise the batteries (B) of packs present therein such that a battery (B) of packs in turn is raised into a position (P) beyond the upper open surface (I) of the box (C) and maintained in said position (P) for a time that is sufficient for all the packs of the battery to be supplied and transferred to the inlet line (L) of the packing machine.

In this way, the device (D) can time by time carry each battery (B) of packs in the raised position (P) thus enabling the battery of packs to be supplied and transferred to the inlet line (L) of the packing machine.

In detail, once the box (C) has been rested on the rest plate (1) (as illustrated in FIG. 1), the moving means (2) are activated to translate so as to pass through the holes (11) of the plate (1) and the holes (F) present in the base surface (CB) of the box (C) and enter the box (C), going to abut against the containing portion (U) which envelops and supports the lower battery (B) of packs internally of the box (i.e. the battery (B) of packs rested on the bottom of the box (B)).

The moving means (M) are maintained active to continue to translate the rods (2) up to when the rods (2) raise all the batteries (B) present internally of the box upwards by a displacement amount corresponding to the height of the battery of boxes (B), then to be stopped.

This means that the upper battery of packs originally present in the box is raised and positioned in a position (P) beyond the open upper face (I) of the box and maintained in this position (P) for a sufficient time to enable transfer thereof to the inlet line (L) (see FIG. 2A).

Once the battery of packs has been all transferred to the inlet line (L), and the relative containing portion removed, the moving means (M) can be newly activated to newly translate the rods (2) with respect to the plate such as to raise the batteries of packs that remain in the box upwards, newly by a displacement amount in an upwards direction towards the other corresponding to the height of a battery of packs, then to be newly halted, such that a successive further battery of packs is positioned in the raised position (P) raised beyond the opening of the box, and maintained in this position (P) for a time sufficient to enable transfer thereof to the inlet line (L) (see FIG. 2B).

This translation cycle of the rods (2) is repeated up to when all the batteries of packs present in the box are raised and maintained in the position (P) beyond the open upper face (I) of the box (for example in the figures the box contains three superposed batteries of packs, and the FIG. 3C illustrates the situation of when the third battery of boxes, i.e. the lower battery which was in contact with the bottom of the box, has been raised and brought into the position (P) beyond the opening of the box).

Once all the batteries of packs present in the box have been raised time by time and brought into the position (P), and then successively transferred to the inlet line (L), the moving means (M) will be commanded to translate the rods (2) in the opposite direction with respect to the plate (1) up to bringing them newly below the plate (1) such as to enable a new box to be placed resting thereon.

It is clear that the device of the present invention enables, in a completely automated way, making the various batteries of boxes contained internally of a box available, time by time, directly at the start of the inlet line of the packing machine without required any intervention or effort on the part of the operator.

Other advantageous characteristics of the device are described in the following.

The device (D) comprises retaining means (3) of the box (C) which are situated on the plate (1) such as to retain the box (C) in contact with the plate (1) once the box (C) has been positioned resting thereon.

The presence of the retaining means (3) is useful for maintaining the box (C) always in contact with the plate while the rods are activated in translation such as to raise the batteries of packs internally of the box so that the open upper surface (I) is maintained always at the same level, corresponding to the inlet line level (L).

In the preferred but not exclusive embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, the retaining means (3) of the box (C) can be constituted by suckers which are housed in niches (30) realised in the plate (1).

In a further possible embodiment, not illustrated, the retaining means (3) of the box (C) can comprise aspirating means housed in niches (30) present in the plate (1) and communicating with an aspirating or depressive source.

In the illustrated embodiment of the device (D), the above-mentioned moving means (M) of the rod comprise a frame (4), predisposed such as to be parallel to the plate (1), on which frame (4) the rods (2) are mounted in such a way as to be perpendicular thereto, and also comprise actuator organs (41) connected to the frame (4) and activatable such as to translate the frame (4) with respect to the plate (1) in opposite translating directions, and therefore consequently also the rods (2) with respect to the plate (1).

The actuator organs (41) comprise a brushless motor (42), a threaded shaft (43), activatable in rotation by the brushless motor (42) in two opposite rotation directions, a nut screw (44) mounted rigidly on the frame (4), the threaded shaft (43) being predisposed and mounted such as to be coupled to the nut screw (44).

In this way, the activating in rotation of the shaft (43) by the brushless motor (42), in a rotation direction or another, determines translation of the nut screw (44) on the shaft (43) in one direction or another, and thus translation of the frame (4) and the rods (2) with respect to the plate (1).

The brushless motor (42) is programmable according to the height of the box, the height of the batteries of packs and the number of batteries of packs present internally of the box such as to adjust and vary the modes and lengths of the translation runs of the rods as a function of these parameters.

This enables the device to adjust time by time to the possible different dimensions of the boxes and packs contained therein which can be used to supply the packing machine.

The device (D) can also exhibit a first pusher organ (5) (visible in FIG. 3), positioned in such a way as to be arranged on an opposite side of the box (C) with respect to the inlet line (L) of the packing machine and which is activatable each time a battery (B) of packs has been raised and positioned in the position (P) beyond the upper open surface (I) of the box (C) such as to transfer the battery (B) of packs from the box into the inlet line (L).

The presence of this first pusher organ (5) enables automating also the supply and transfer operations of the batteries of the packs to the inlet line (L) of the packing machine, leaving the operative exclusively a controlling function to make sure everything happens correctly and removing the containing portion (U) once the corresponding battery of packs has been transferred to the line (L).

The operator can also be assigned the task of opening the upper face of the cardboard (C) once it has been placed on the rest plane (1).

The loading operations of the box (C) can in fact be carried out entirely automatically and autonomously by the device (D).

In this regard, the device (D) can comprise, as illustrated for example in detail in FIG. 3, a storage plane (6) situated laterally to the plate (1) and in a position such as to be situated at a same level thereof in order to restingly receive a following box (C) containing packs, while waiting until all the batteries (B) of packs present internally of the box resting on the plate (1) have been transferred to the inlet line (L) of the packing machine (in FIG. 1, for the sake of greater clarity, the storage plane (6) has been omitted, while in FIGS. 2A, 2B, 2C the storage plane (6) has been only partially illustrated in the part thereof adjacent to the plate (11), while in FIG. 3 the storage plane (6) is entirely visible).

The device (D) also includes a second pusher organ (61) for transferring the box from the storage plane (6) to the rest plane (1), once the emptied box is removed from the rest plate (1) and the rods (2) have been lowered.

To transport a box after another onto the storage plane (6), the device (D) is provided with a conveyor belt (7) for conveying the boxes (C) internally containing the flat packs which is positioned in such a way that the terminal part thereof is positioned by a flank of the storage plane (6) and a third pusher organ (71) for transferring the box that has reached the terminal part of the conveyor on the storage plane (6).

In this way, the device (D) is able to predispose, time by time, on the storage plane (6), a box (C) ready to be transferred onto the plate (1), once the preceding box has been emptied of the contents thereof, the operator has removed the box from the plate (1) and the rods (2) have been translated and lowered newly below the plate (1).

FIG. 3 illustrates the situation where the box previously placed on the rest plate (1) has been completely emptied, while a successive box has been predisposed on the storage plane (6) ready to be transferred onto the rest plate (1).

In FIG. 3, the empty box still on the plate (1) has been illustrated with the bottom shown as “transparent” so as to show the plate (1) with the relative holes (11) and the rods (2): in FIG. 3 the flap (W1) of the box is folded so as to insert between the two lateral walls (L1, L2) of the inlet line (L), as specified more precisely in the following.

The advantages of the device of the present invention are evident.

The supply operations of the boxes to the inlet line of the packing machine are carried out entirely automatically, and thus have a supply frequency that is significantly higher than the manual supply modes as present used, which leads to an increase in productivity.

Further, the operator is no longer hampered by operations which in the long run can be very laborious (loading, unloading of boxes, transfer of the packs from the box to the inlet line), but can turn his attention only to a control activity of the correct functioning of the device, and possibly take charge of only some very simple operations to be performed, such as the removal of the containing portions of the box once transferred to the line, the removal of the box from the plate once emptied, and possibly also the opening of the box, for example once it has been transferred onto the rest plate (1).

In FIGS. 4A and 4B a package (Z) of a box containing flat packs is shown.

This package (Z) can be predisposed and prepared especially to be used by the previously-described device (D) to supply the inlet line (L) of a packing machine.

The package (Z) comprises a box (C) provided with a base surface (CB) which exhibits a series of through-holes (F), the through-holes (F) being in a number corresponding to a number of holes (11) present in the plate (1) of the device (D) and in such a way as to be positioned at the holes (11) once the box (C) is positioned resting on the plate (1).

The holes (F) are realised so as have such dimensions as to be freely passed-through by the rods (2) of the device (D).

Internally of the box (C), the package (Z) further comprises: a series of batteries (B) of flat packs superposed on one another, with the flat packs of each battery (B) being predisposed in a row, flanked to one another; a series of U-shaped containing portions (U), each of which containing portions (U) is predisposed in such a way as to be associated to a corresponding battery (B) of packs and being arranged internally of the box (C) in such a way as to support the battery (B) of packs and envelop the battery at least up to two ends thereof.

The containing portion (U) can be made of cardboard and has the function of retaining the packs of the battery in position internally of the box during the raising thereof towards the raised position (P) beyond the opening of the box by the rods (2) of the device.

The presence of the containing portion (U) below the battery of packs which is in contact with the bottom of the box enables the rods (2) to carry out the raising operations of the various batteries unproblematically.

The box (C) of the package (Z) comprises, at each of the upper ends of the lateral walls, flaps (W, W1) foldable for closing/opening an upper surface (I) thereof.

A peculiarity of the box (C), is constituted by the fact that the flap (W1) of a lateral transversal wall (PT), destined to be positioned facing towards the inlet line (L) of the packing machine once the box (C) has been positioned on the rest plate (1) of the device (D), exhibits transversal dimensions that are such that once folded with respect to the relative lateral transversal wall (PT) for opening the upper surface (I) of the box (C), the flap (W1) can be positioned and inserted between lateral containing walls (L1, L2) of the packs present in the inlet line (L) of the packing machine such as to constitute a support for the packs during transfer thereof from the raised position (P) to the inlet line (L) (see for example FIG. 4 and FIG. 3).

This peculiarity facilitates and expedites the transfer of the battery of packs to the inlet line (L).

The above has been described by way of non-limiting example, and any constructional variants are understood to fall within the protective scope of the following claims. 

1. A device for supplying an inlet line of a packing machine with flat packs contained internally of a cardboard box, wherein the device comprises: a rest plate, which exhibits a shape and dimensions adequate for restingly receiving a base surface of the box, which is fixable with respect to the inlet line in a position such that the box, once rested on the plate, is arranged with a transversal lateral wall facing towards the inlet line of the packing machine and with an upper surface thereof open at a level corresponding to a start level of the line, and which comprises a series of through-holes, the box exhibiting the base surface thereof provided with through-holes realised in such a way as to be positioned opposite the holes present in the plate, once the box has been placed resting thereon, the packs being predisposed in the box in a row, flanked to one another such as to form a battery of flat packs, the box exhibiting dimensions such as to be able to contain a plurality of batteries of packs mutually superposed and which is provided, for each battery of packs, with a containing portion in a U-shape arranged such as to support the battery of packs and envelop the battery at least partially at the two ends thereof, a series of rods, corresponding in number to a number of holes present in the plate, predisposed in such a way as to be coaxially aligned to the holes and exhibiting dimensions such as to be able to transit freely through the holes ; moving means of the rods, activatable in such a way as to translate the rods with respect to the plate in two opposite translation directions, the moving means being commandable, once a box has been positioned with the relative base surface resting on the plate, in such a way as to translate the rods with respect to the plate in such a way that the rods pass through the holes present in the plate and the holes present on the base surface of the box enter internally of the box and raise the batteries of packs present therein such that a battery of packs in turn is raised into a position beyond the upper open surface of the box and maintained in said position for a time that is sufficient for all the packs of the battery to be supplied and transferred to the inlet line of the packing machine.
 2. The device of claim 1, further comprising retaining means of the box which are situated on the plate such as to retain the box in contact with the plate once the box has been positioned resting thereon.
 3. The device of claim 2, wherein the retaining means of the box comprise suckers housed in niches present in the plate.
 4. The device of claim 2, wherein the retaining means of the box comprise aspirating elements mounted on the surface of the plate and communicating with a source of aspiration.
 5. The device of claim 2, wherein the moving means of the rods comprise a frame, predisposed such as to be parallel to the plate, on which frame the rods are mounted in such a way as to be perpendicular thereto, and actuator organs connected to the frame and activatable such as to translate the frame with respect to the plate in opposite translating directions.
 6. The device of claim 5, wherein the actuator organs comprise a brushless motor, a threaded shaft, activatable in rotation by the brushless motor in two opposite rotation directions, a nut screw mounted rigidly on the frame, the threaded shaft being predisposed and mounted such as to be coupled to the nut screw in such a way that the activating in rotation of the shaft by the brushless motor, in a rotation direction or another, determines translation of the nut screw on the shaft in one direction or another, and thus translation of the frame and the rods with respect to the plate .
 7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a first pusher organ, positioned in such a way as to be arranged on an opposite side of the box with respect to the inlet line of the packing machine and which is activatable each time a battery of packs has been raised and positioned in the position beyond the upper open surface of the box such as to transfer the battery of packs from the box into the inlet line.
 8. The device of claim 1, further comprising a storage plane situated laterally to the plate and in a position such as to be situated at a same level thereof in order to restingly receive a following box containing packs, while waiting until all the batteries of packs present internally of the box resting on the plate have been transferred to the inlet line of the packing machine.
 9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a second pusher organ for transferring the box from the storage plane to the rest plane, once the emptied box is removed from the rest plate and the rods have been lowered.
 10. The device of claim 9, further comprising a conveyor belt for conveying boxes containing internally thereof flat packs positioned such that a terminal part thereof is by a flank of the storage plane, and a third pusher organ for transferring the box that has arrived at the terminal part of the conveyor on the storage plane .
 11. A cardboard package containing flat packs, the package comprising: a box provided with a base surface which exhibits a series of through-holes, the through-holes being in a number corresponding to a number of holes present in the plate of the device according to claim 1, and the through-holes being realised in such a way as to be positioned at the holes once the box is positioned resting on the plate and having such dimensions as to be freely passed-through by the rods of the device, and internally of the box: a series—of batteries of flat packs superposed on one another, with the flat packs of each battery being predisposed in a row, flanked to one another; a series of U-shaped containing portions, each of which containing portions is predisposed in such a way as to be associated to a corresponding battery of packs and being arranged internally of the box in such a way as to support the battery of packs and envelope the battery at least up to two ends thereof.
 12. The cardboard package of claim 11, wherein the box comprises, at each of upper ends of the lateral walls, flaps foldable for closing/opening an upper surface thereof, and wherein the flap of a lateral transversal wall, destined to be positioned facing towards the inlet line of the packing machine once the box has been positioned on the rest plate of the device, exhibits transversal dimensions that are such that once folded with respect to the relative lateral transversal wall for opening the upper surface of the box, the flap can be positioned and inserted between lateral containing walls of the packs present in the inlet line of the packing machine such as to constitute a support for the packs during transfer thereof from the raised position to the inlet line. 